The BLM has released the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR) for this Project. The Decision is subject to a 30-day appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). Additional information and a citation to the applicable regulations can be found in the decision document. The 30-day appeal period closes January 2, 2019.
The focus of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) is the evaluation, documentation, and disclosure of the effects of the requisite Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (FS) administrative actions in response to two applications for hardrock mineral prospecting permits (WAOR 066628 and 066973), submitted by Ascot USA, Inc. The prospecting permit applications involve acquired National Forest System (NFS) lands administered by the Gifford Pinchot NF. The BLM is also considering approval of an exploration plan submitted by Ascot for conducting specific exploration on the prospecting permits, should they be issued.
This EA was originally completed November 30, 2012. (DOI-BLM-OR-934-2012-001-EA) It was utilized by the FS and the BLM as the basis for their decisions and findings of no significant impacts (FONSI) issued in December 2012. The Agencies' decisions, but not the EA, were subsequently vacated in a civil action before the U.S. District Court of Oregon in August 2014. To comply with the Court order and opinions, a Modified EA has been prepared by the Agencies.

Project Location:

The Permit Application Area is located approximately 15 miles south of Randle, Washington near the northwest corner of Skamania County. The Permit Application Area is within portions of Sections 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Township 10 North, Range 6 East, Willamette Meridian, Skamania County, Washington. The Permit Application Area is also designate as Mineral Survey (MS) parcels 708, 774, 779, 1329, and 1330. The Project Area is located on and adjacent to the south facing slope of Goat Mountain. These lands are next to and extend northeast from the boundary of the 110,300-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.